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Valley Spirit: January 11, 1860 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Husbands
(Column 04)

Summary: Unsigned article comparing American marriages favorably to European; the former are more often based on love, while the latter more often based on convenience. Also discusses what is legitimate company to keep outside of marriage. The end of the article is illegible.

Full Text of Article:

Perhaps one-half of the marriages that are solemnized in European Christendom are regarded by the parties most interested as nothing more than mere civil contracts. There are certain obligations assumed on both sides--certain promises made in the presence of witnesses; but the true scope and meaning of these are no more thought of than the solemn appeal in the oath of the infidel, drawn upon the Holy Evangely. It is a sort of form required by law, to give full force to the contract which has nothing in it that refers in the slightest degree to the sanction itself. It is true that a man engages to defend, protect, support and cherish the woman to whom he gives his name. It is true that the woman engages to love, honor and obey her husband; but these obligations are like the imaginary dollar in the law paper, "the receipts where of is hereby acknowledged." A legal fiction, meaning nothing; but necessary, because the form is established; the seal affixed to a deed, which is merely the word "seal," surrounded by a fancy border, and bearing not the slightest resemblance to the thing it signifies.

In our country, however, such marriages are still exceptions to the rule. No doubt there are more genuine love matches in the United States, than anywhere else in the world. As we grow older and more artificial, we may domesticate the European fashion, as we have done with other follies, and select our wives as we do our horses and dogs, on account of their breed--or our books, on account of their binding--or our stock, on account of their certain revenue.

It is a little curious to notice the difference between our practical arrangements for happiness in the wedded life, and the imaginary bliss of novel heroes and heroines. We lay down the novel that ends with the union of the lovers who had sighed and suffered and loved through its pages, and we conclude that the remainder of their lives will be spent in each other's company. Being men, we scorn to grow spooney over the harrowing accounts of the frequent separations--the numberless obstacles in the way of two passionate hearts that beat in unions all the time; but we are conscious of the liveliest satisfaction when the barriers are removed and the denouncement brings happiness--the more ecstatic because the longer delayed. All this is well enough for the writers of fiction, but the sober realieties of life are far different. While men do not grow tired of their wives or weary of their society, they do sometimes acquire a fondness for othersociety. It is to be supposed that in married lovers at least, there will be an increasing unity of tastes, purposes, desires and aspirations. We may cultivate friendly relations with all the world, but from the innermost sanctuary of our homes the world is excluded. In our counting-rooms, offices and work-shops, we toil for daily bread, and we have a kindly greeting for all our fellow-workmen; but we seek our homes and the companionship of our wives for rest and enjoyment.

This would seem to be the natural condition of affairs in all those households where true affection reigns. But from some cause--the loss of the novelty, the appetite for excitement, the longing for something new--no matter what--we find that husbands sometimes seek for enjoyment away from their homes. They are unimpeachable, so long as they furnish their wives with sufficient market-money and so long as they do not incur a liability to a suit for divorce. When the society for which they give up the company of their wives, is a male gathering--a place where politics may be discussed or mere amusement sought--it is bad enough; but it is ten thousand times worse when married men habitually seek the society of other woeman [sic] for the enjoyment they can not find at home. It is virtually saying that they find in other women more attractive qualities than any with which their wives are endowed.

When men are not capable of constancy, they ought to affect it for decency's sake. The suspicion of the world is immediately aroused when a married man's whole life is spent anywhere rather than home. We do not wish to see him always tied to his wife's apron string, but we admire and respect the man in whose estimation his wife is the first woman in all the world. And next to him, we admire and respect the man who has manliness enough to stimulate the feeling if he is too unstable and volatile to have it deeply rooted in his heart.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Leap Year
(Column 01)

Summary: The Spirit reminds women that, by tradition, they are allowed to propose marriage during leap year. Includes a letter from one young woman who is "in want of a husband. Any good looking young gentleman with mustache, and ten thousand dollars, can have my hand certain and, perhaps, my heart too if I can fancy him."

Full Text of Article:

Our young lady friends all, of course, understand that this is Leap Year, and that they have the right to "pop the question," lead to the Altar, pay the boarding bills, or rent house and furnish it, for any young gentleman whom they may see proper to "splice." It were useless in us to exhort them to improve the long-wished-for-opportunity now presented. They will do that on "natural principles" without any prompting from us. Here is one "fast gal" who seems desirous of being in time.

To the Publishers of the Valley Spirit:

GENTS: As this is Leap Year I assume the prerogative [sic] it affords our sex and ask the privilege of your columns for the purpose of proposing matrimony. I am a little past "sweet sixteen" and in want of a husband. Any good looking young gentleman with mustache, and ten thousand dollars, can have my hand certain and, perhaps my ear too if I can fancy him. I am not over [sic] particular as to habits, if slightly erratic, though not past reforming. I'll risk it. I may say I am considered handsome though not by any means a beauty. I have some money in my own right and expect to inherit some more. I believe I possess all the requisites to make any man who I can love, and who will love me in return, happy. I make this proposal of marriage in good faith, and as I do not desire to be hoaxed, or imposed upon, I grant you the privilege of opening all my letters and request that you will only send me those that you think, are honorable acceptances. Address the annexed initials, for two weeks only, for if this plan does not succeed, in that time, I intend to try another. You see I am in a hurry, and in earnest, for I expect a rush among the girls for husbands and I do not want to be hindmost.

With Respect,
Yours, &c.
S A L
Care of Valley Spirit
Chambersburg, Pa.

The above is a genuine epistle and our young gents in want of a wife would do well to give it their serious consideration. From the following it would appear that "S. A. L" though undoubtedly a "fast gal" is a little too fast. Leap Year does not commence until the 29th of February, l860.

Any year divisible by 4, without a remainder is Leap Year which comes every fourth year.

Personal
(Column 02)

Summary: Rev. Jacob Stock of Altoona has been elected pastor of the English Lutheran Church of Chambersburg and will preach Sunday.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Jacob Stock)

Personal
(Column 02)

Summary: Dr. S.G. Lane was reappointed Physician to the Poor House by Directors of Poor House, and salary raised from $80 to $100 per year.
(Names in announcement: Dr. S.G. Lane)

The Man Haslett
(Column 02)

Summary: Letter from a militia member from Fort Scott, Kansas, who accused Edward Haslett, a member of John Brown's party in Harper's Ferry, of participating in the "murderous raid" on Fort Scott in 1858.

Origin of Article: from letter

Death of an Editor
(Column 03)

Summary: Bonner, late editor of Franklin Ledger, died in Greencastle on January 8th.
(Names in announcement: B. BonnerEsq.)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Prof. Shattuck went hunting on "Head-top" mountain and brought back a deer.
(Names in announcement: Prof. James Shattuck)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Continuation of Governor Packer's state of the state address. He addresses several aspects of the sectional crisis. He approves of Kansas's admission under popular sovereignty; he approves of Virginia's execution of John Brown and promises swift action against anyone in Pennsylvania who would aim to stir trouble up against any state. Packer also states that slavery is not open to question, and that moderate heads on all sides should prevail to hold the union together.
(Names in announcement: William Packer)

Cases For Trial at January Term
(Column 04)

Summary: List of civil court cases.
(Names in announcement: William Christ, John Snyder, John Kerr, Abraham Wingert, Catharine Bowman, Joseph Bowman, John Wyncoop, John Snyder, G.W. Wolff, William McLellan, Elizabeth Wingert, Peter Artz, Jacob Wingert, A.H. Newman, Frank Myers, Joseph Winters, Isaac Kohr, Jeremiah George, J.W. Skinner, James Kirkpatrick, Margaret Tribert, William Seibert, Frederick Divilblis, P. A. Rice, Daniel DechartJr., George Corwell, Jacob Mishler, Sarah Leidig, John Ditzler, David Smith, William McLennan, George Wiles, James Downey, John SkinnerJr., William Sorenson, John Nimmon, Fred Foreman, William Stevenson, P.W. Seibert, Joshua Wright, John Grier, James Carlisle, Samuel Walker, Mary Tosten, William Augle, James Tosten, George Foust, Christ. Laydig, Michael Strock, Henry Champion, Wm. Chambers, Peter Cook, John Zimmerman, P. Blair, Alex McClure, Benjamin Nead, George Davidson, Wm. Shrader, John Shirtz, Solomon Huber, James Kennedy, C.C. Foltz)